The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday granted interim anticipatory bail to BJP leader Madal Virupakshappa, who was arrested under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The Single-Judge Bench of Justice K. Natarajan, while granting bail to Virupakshappa on a personal bond of Rs five lakh, directed him not to enter the office of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd (KSDL) till further orders.
The BJP leader was serving as the Chairman of KSDL, but resigned after his son V. Prashanth Madal was allegedly caught red-handed by the Lokayukta while accepting illegal gratification of Rs 40 lakh in relation with a contract.
He was directed by the High Court to co-operate with the investigation and surrender before the police within 48 hours of receipt of the order.
The Bench further directed the prosecution to file its statement of objections to the plea and posted the matter for further hearing on March 17.
Advocates Sandeep Patil and Swamini G. Mohanambal had filed a petition in the High Court on Monday on behalf of Virupakshappa, alleging that the entire exercise of filing a complaint and registering an FIR was wholly illegal and malafide, done with the intention of harassing the petitioner.
It further said that none of the ingredients to make the said offences were present in the FIR registered under Sections 7(a) & (b), 7(A) 8, 9 & 10 of Prevention of Corruption (Amended) Act, 2018.
According to case details, a complaint was lodged before the Lokayuktha Police alleging that Virupakshappa demanded illegal gratification to process a certain tender in Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Ltd (KSDL).
The Lokayuktha Police had registered an FIR against Virupakshappa on the basis of a complaint alleging that the BJP leader had demanded illegal gratification to process a certain tender in KSDL.
Virupakshappa’s son V. Prashanth Madal and other accused were allegedly caught red-handed later, accepting Rs 40 lakh bribe. The complaint further alleged that over Rs eight crore was recovered by Lokayukta from the MLA’s son last week.
The petition by Virupakshappa contended that the complaint and the FIR did not mention any specific allegation against the petitioner to have taken the alleged illegal gratification. Mere recovery of money from Accused No 2 (Virupakshappa’s son) bereft of any material showing illegal or corrupt means or abuse of official function, would not be sufficient cause to register and maintain proceedings under the alleged offences of PC Act, it added.
Virupakshappa further told the court that he was a person of good repute and a law abiding citizen of the country. The MLA had deep roots in the society. Therefore, there could be no apprehension of his fleeing from justice, he added.
(Case title: K. Madal Virupakshappa vs State of Karnataka)